Faces Of Fargo Business 2018: Part Two

We are pleased to present our second annual “Faces of Fargo Business” coffee table book. In the following section, we celebrate members of the Fargo metro area who were featured in Fargo INC! over the past year. Here’s part two.

We are pleased to present our second annual “Faces of Fargo Business” coffee table book. In the following section, we celebrate members of the Fargo metro area who were featured in Fargo INC! over the past year. Aspiring entrepreneurs, CEOs, artists and countless others share one last note with us as we head into 2019.

Kurt McSparron

If you could thank one organization, resource or individual that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?
Mike Dragosavich, Spotlight Media and particularly the team at Fargo INC!, for filling a void, providing a valuable resource and telling the stories of local business leaders and entrepreneurs.

What motivates you?
Helping people find significance and appreciation.

What advice would you give young people just entering the business world?
Tirelessly listen to everyone’s advice until someone’s – anyone’s – matches what your gut was telling you, then commit to it.

Amanda McKinnon

If you could thank one organization, resource or individual that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?
This is probably going to sound weird, but the team at [solidcore]! I think too often we get so caught up in our careers, focused on our families, the daily grind, that we forget to take care of ourselves. When I walk through their doors, I am instantly happy, and when I leave, I feel stronger both physically and mentally because they push you to be better and know you’re capable! Self-care is a necessity regardless of who you are or what your role is in the community. When I’m my best self, I’m more equipped to help others.

How does the reality of your job differ from people’s perception of it?
I have had people ask me if I set an alarm and shower since I don’t clock in at an office with others around. Yes, I set an alarm. Yes, I shower and get ready for the day. Do I sometimes workout at 10 a..m on a Thursday when others are sitting in a meeting in a conference room? Yes! There are also times I’m working at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night. Owning your own business, even a business of one, affords you flexibility. Yet, I leave this week for vacation and will have my laptop in tow and my international phone plan in effect because it’s a rarity for me to be fully disconnected, as my clients are of great importance to me.

Dayna Del Val

What motivates you?
I don’t just kind of believe the arts are a key problem solver to so many of the issues plaguing our communities; I KNOW they are. I have the proof that they are an economic driver, that they attract and retain potential employees, that they help kids deal with bullying in schools, that they assist people managing mental health issues and So. Much. More. The arts matter, and I am motivated to help others not just give lip service to that but to truly understand it and support it.

Cindy Gillund

If you could thank one organization that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?Emerging Prairie and specifically their 1 Million Cups platform. I spoke on February 14, 2018, and it was an absolutely spectacular experience. It was a great way for us to get in front of a variety of people and share our journey to becoming an app. From that, we have made so many connections that branched into more opportunities. We certainly have relied on our own networks as we’ve started up, but that was a big catalyst for us to expand into areas we didn’t know about. Prior to 1 Million Cups, we didn’t have a good grasp of the vibrancy of the entrepreneurial culture of Fargo, even though we were technically a part of it. From that point on, we have felt much more connected.

What motivates you?
People. I went through an awful personal experience for almost two years, and I had a specific point where I remember thinking, “I could lose faith in people and build up walls and be safe forever, or I could trust that people are good and fill my life with examples of how wonderful they are.” That day I chose to have faith in people, and it was the best decision of my life. When someone I don’t even know says that Go/Do has helped them make memories with their family or made a part of their lives easier, I could work for hours on that high.

What advice would you give young people just entering the business world?
Always listen and learn from others. People with different perspectives are not to be feared, they should be welcomed. When you are a part of a team that encourages differences, the ability to succeed is endless. Listen to others’ thoughts on your ideas and take it in. Don’t just violently oppose them because it might not be what you want to hear. Absorb, process, adapt, improve. Go to bed and do it again the next day.

Peter Chamberlain

How does the reality of your job differ from people’s perception of it?
There’s nothing glamorous about it, despite the portrayal of entrepreneurship in certain publications… my house is a mess, I get airBnB’s in trailer parks, I sometimes drive 15 hours in a day. Definitely not Elon Musk.

What’s one thing you want the local business community to know about you?
I’m a musician! Anyone want to jam sometime? You bring the pipe organ…

Likewise, If you could thank one person in the FM community, who would it be and why?
Mr. Greg Tehven, of course, for his generosity, leadership and friendship.